By Samira Larbie/Sasel E.A Ekumah
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA – The Ministry of Health has called for innovation, collaboration and sustained investment in Ghana’s regulatory systems to strengthen public health protection and support local industry.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister of Health, said regulatory innovation must make processes faster, smarter and more responsive without compromising public safety.
He made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Desmond Boateng, Chief Director of the Ministry, at the 2026 Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Accra, on the theme: “Regulatory Excellence through Innovation, Collaboration and Sustained Growth.”
Mr Akandoh said the FDA played a critical role in protecting public health by ensuring the safety, quality and fitness of food, medicines, cosmetics and other regulated products.
He said industry also depended on the Authority for clear, timely and predictable regulatory processes, making public confidence in the FDA essential to Ghana’s development.
“Regulatory innovation is not about technology for its own sake. It is about using better approaches to make regulation faster, smarter and more responsive, while never compromising public health,” he said.
Mr Akandoh urged stakeholders to embrace digitalisation, data‑driven regulation, modern laboratory systems and risk‑based approaches, stressing stronger collaboration among the FDA,
industry, academia, professional bodies, development partners, government agencies, civil society and consumers.
He said that sustained investment in people, skills, infrastructure, technology and other resources was necessary to equip the FDA to respond to emerging regulatory demands.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong‑Manso Opuni, Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, said the Authority remained committed to faster regulatory decisions while building an informed and compliant society.
He said the FDA had digitalised key operations through the Ghana FDA Integrated Regulatory Management System (GFIRMS), alongside new systems for human resources, audit and finance.
A Client Service Centre and ticketing and queue management systems had been introduced to improve customer service.
On decentralisation, Prof Opuni said the FDA had opened four new regional offices and planned to establish 60 district offices by the end of the year in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency.
He said the Authority had maintained its World Health Organisation Maturity Level Three status and was pursuing Level Four, while working towards becoming a WHO‑Listed Authority.
Prof Opuni said the FDA had maintained ISO 17025 certification for its Centre for Laboratory Services and Research and ISO 9001 certification for the Authority.
He said that the FDA had strengthened food safety surveillance and risk‑based inspections, expanded monitoring of food production and distribution, and introduced a 24‑hour schedule for critical regulatory and client‑facing services.
Prof Opuni said the FDA had become a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence in Africa for selected regulatory functions and continued to support technical exchanges and internships.
He noted ongoing partnerships with development partners, including projects for a training hub, data centre and ultramodern vaccines and biological products laboratory, with support from German Cooperation and the European Union.
Prof Opuni said the FDA would continue engaging industry groups, including the Association of Ghana Industries and Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana, to improve compliance and create a conducive business environment.
He identified sustainable financing, staff retention, modern infrastructure, government support and strong partnerships as critical to sustaining the Authority’s gains beyond individual projects and donor funding.
“As we look ahead, we remain committed to smarter regulation, stronger collaboration, digital transformation, capacity building and continuous improvement,” he said.
Prof Opuni urged stakeholders to work with the FDA, offer constructive feedback and share practical solutions as the Authority sought to protect public health, support responsible industry and contribute to Ghana’s development.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Samira Larbie